Curry Udon – A flavorful Japanese dish that is the perfect comfort food! Udon noodles topped with a homemade curry sauce. Easy to make and delicious!

Curry Udon

I love just about anything that has udon noodles in it.  A few months back, I perfected making udon soup and from there, I knew that curry udon was next up.  This dish must be described as a very warming meal that is PERFECT for when you are sick or for when it is cold outside.  There are so many delicious flavors in it that just heat you up in each bite.

Start to finish, this curry udon recipe takes about 35 minutes and makes about 4 servings.  I found that it reheats well in a pan with a little extra water in it because it will thicken up as it cools off.  I honestly prefer it the second day because the flavors have time to sink into each other.

The key ingredient that you need to have for this recipe is curry roux.  This is available off Amazon or in some grocery stores as a dried brick but you can also make it from scratch with just butter, flour, garam masala, and curry powder.  It takes a few minutes extra to make but I prefer to use it.  The recipe I use can be found HERE, I suggest using about 1/2-3/4 of what the recipe produces in my curry udon recipe below instead of the curry blocks if you choose to go that route.

Common questions about making Japanese curry udon

What do you put in Japanese curry?

Typically, some of the ingredients that are put into Japanese curry are onions, potatoes, carrots, apple, or mushrooms.  It is up to your personal preference what you want to use.

What kind of meat is used in Japanese curry?

Meat can be added to Japanese curry such as pork or beef.  If you chose to add meat, add it cooked into the step where the curry roux is added.

Is Japanese curry spicy?

Yes, Japanese curry does have a kick of spice to it.  Even though they have many of the same spices, Japanese curry is a bit different than Indian curry flavor-wise and it tends to be a bit thicker.

What spices are in Japanese curry?

In general, garam masala and curry powder are in Japanese curry.  Those are both blends of spices that include spices such as coriander, cardamom, cumin, cloves, cinnamon, black pepper, tumeric, ginger, chili, etc.  Both are avalible pre-made at most grocery stores or off of Amazon.  If you like Indian food, both of these spices are worth having.

What can I substitute for dashi?

There is no real substitute for dashi but it is easily available online on sites such as Amazon for just a few dollars.  You can use a chicken or beef broth instead in the recipe but it will have a very different (yet also delicious) flavor than if you used dashi.

How do you use dashi powder?

If you are using dashi powder, then you will need to bring the amount of water needed for the recipe to a boil and then add in 1 teaspoon of dashi powder per cup of water.  (example: 4 teaspoons of dashi powder for 4 cups of water)

Can’t get enough of this curry udon recipe? Try these other Japanese recipes!

• 10 Minute Miso Soup
• Chicken Katsu {Breaded Deep Fried Chicken}
• Chicken Teriyaki
• Japanese Cucumber Salad (Sunomono)
• Udon Soup

Yield: 4 servings

Curry Udon

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Curry Udon - A flavorful Japanese dish that is the perfect comfort food! Udon noodles topped with a homemade curry sauce. Easy to make and delicious!

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Total Time 35 minutes

Ingredients

• 3 cups water
• 3 teaspoons instant dashi granules
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1/2 onion, chopped
• 1 potato, peeled and chopped
• 1 carrot, chopped
• 2 blocks Japanese curry roux
• 2 packages pre-cooked udon noodles, or 8 ounces dried udon noodles
• Green onions, sliced for garnish

Instructions

1. Prepare the dashi according to the instructions on the packaging in a large pot.  Once the dashi is at a boil, add in soy sauce, onion, potato, and carrot.  Bring to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes or until the vegetables are soft and cooked through.
2. Add in curry roux blocks and cook for about 10 more minutes.  The sauce should be thick and smooth.
3. While the sauce is finishing up, cook the noodles according to the directions on the packaging.  Once they are cooked, drain them and then add them into the curry sauce.
4. Serve in a bowl topped with green onions.